Cable pothead



Feb 1'7, W48. w. P. BOVARD CABLE POTHEAD Filed Sept. 14, 1945 I n v e n for WILLIAM E BOVARD Atlorney Patented Feb. 17, 1948 CABLE roman) William P. Bovard, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to The Ohio Brass Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application September 14, 1945, Serial No. 616,254

6 Claims. (01. 174-75) My invention relates to cable potheads for use in signal systems whereby an underground signal or parkway cable or wire may be conveniently joined or connected to a track lead or cable.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide a pothead whereby the signal or parkway cable may be connected to the track lead either by mechanical means or by mechanical means combined with soldering.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the class named which shall be of improved construction and operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description,

The invention is exemplified by the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing and described in the fol-- lowing specification and is more particularly pointed out in appended claims.

In the drawing- Fig. l is a side view in elevation and partial section of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the cap member to be secured to the upright standard, later described.

Fig. 4 is a top view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top view of a combined clamping and solder retaining member.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line B6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a top view of an intermediate clamping member.

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively sections on the lines 88 and 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a top view of a top clamping member and Fig. 11 is a section on the line ll--H of Fig. 10.

In Fig. 1 is disclosed a combination, including the above named elements, comprising a hollow standard I with a base 2 welded thereto and of extended area to anchor the device in the.

ground.

Intermediate the ends of the standard I is a Washer 3, preferably of fibre, with a central opening 4 through which the signal cable may pass of the standard and interposed between the' standard and cap 5 is an insulating bushing 6.

as of fibre to maintain the connected wires and cables insulated from the standard.

The cap 5 comprises an inverted cup-shaped member with an opening 1 inits top walla and being formed with a continuous slot l0 and the side walls adjacent the split provided with lugs II to receive a clamping bolt 12, whereby the cap may be drawn easily into clamping engagement with the insulating bushing 6 which yields sufiiciently whereby the cap 5 and bushing 6 are secured to the standard. The slot Ill permits passing the conductor from within the standard to the outside thereof.

Mounted on the upper surface of the wall 8 of the member 5 is solder retaining member l3 provided with a supporting portion l4 with an open ing l5 registering with the opening I in the cap 5.

The supporting portion [4 has oppositely disposed faces and is provided with a slot 16 cooper ating with the slot [0 of the cap 5 whereby the end of the signal conductor may be brought outside the standard. Projecting from the portion M to one side thereof is an open top receptacle portion I1 provided with a bottom wall [8 spaced from the wall 8 and having an upright wall I!) open on one side forming the open top cavity IT. The cavity I1 is intended to receive solder when desired and the walls thereof being spaced from the member 5 will better facilitate the application of molten solder thereto as the heat will not be so readily conducted away and into the cap 5.

Figs. '7, 8 and Qdlsclose the intermediate clamping member 20 which has an upright face 22 which fits against the end faces of the wall 19 and thereby forms a more completely enclosed cavity H.

The member 20 is mounted above the portion M of the member l3 and is provided with an opening 23 which registers with the openings '1 and I5. Member 20 is provided on its lower face with transverse grooves 24 spaced on opposite sides of the opening 23, to receive the track leads 25.

The member 20 is also provided on its upper surface with a groove 26 which encircles the opening 23 and is designed to receive the conductor of the parkway signal wire which passes upward through the standard I.

The member 20 is further provided with a slot 21 which intersects the groove 26 and through which the conductor of the signal cable may be passed. The groove 26 has a side opening 23 which opens alongthe edge 22.

Mounted above the intermediate clampin member 20 is a top clamping member 29 shown in Figs. 10 and 11 and is provided with an opening 30 which registers with the other openin s 3 and also has 2. lug 3| which intersects the slot 21 in the member 20 and prevents relative rotation of the members 20 and 29.

The member 29 engages the conductor of the parkway cable which is positioned in the groove 26 of the member 20 and also overlaps the top opening of the receptacle to some extent.

The parts are assembled in theorder described above and as shown in Fig. 1 'and'held in rela tion to each other and to the conductors by securing means 32 which is shown as a bolt and nut and effects mechanical clamping of the con ductors.

A bolt of the carriage type may be use'd which has a square shank for a distance back from the head and this square shank being disposed in the openings 1 and I5 prevent relativerotationthereof.

The member 20 is held against rotation relative to the member l3 by its-engagement with the end faces, of the-wall I-9 'on the member l3 and the member 29 isprevented-from relative-rotation'by thedug 3i intersectingztheslot2'1.

The bolt =32 may be held in place when the nut is removedby extending the top portion-of the fibre bushing 6 inwardly sufiiciently to engage the bolt headasat33 (Fig. 1') 'or-theedgeof the bolt head may be' spot welded to the cup as is well known in theart.

In installing my improved pothead, which is mounted in the earth with the upper end, pro- ,iecting therefrom, the parkway cable is brought up through the standard I and the conductor thereof extends through the slots l0, l6 and "2 1. With the top clamping member removed, the projecting end of 'the'parkway conductor is coiled about the shank ofthe-bolt"3,2 and into thegroove 26 "with a double back portion of the conductor projecting through the-sideopening -28--andoverhanging the cavity 1 I.

V I The cables 25arethen positioned in-the grooves 24 and shown in Figs'l' and' 2 withthe-ends-extending into the cavity ll The top clampingmember is then replaced and the 'nut 32 tightened'thus securely clamping the conductor and 'the'cables'in position. The overhanging portion' of the conductor is then bent downward as at, 3'4and into the-cavity l '1'.

Molten solder is now poured into the cavity 41 which unites with the endsof the cables and conductors thereby I increasing the electricalconnection therebetween. It is optional whether the ends of the "cables and eonductor'are soldered but they are otherwise securely clamped a in place.

If desired a torch may be applied to the re cepta'cle portion of the member 13 and solder melted directlyin'to the receptacle. The wall 18 being spaced 'from the wall 8 of the cap 'aids materially in the soldering operation.

--If desired the interior ofth'e standard mayj be filled with a sealing compound such as asphalt. By forming the grooves in the member :20 -so that the track leads or cables 25, which-are larger than the parkway conductor and more diflicult to bend, may-be placed below the parky conductor, the ends of the track leadsrre broughtstraight into thecavity ll without any bending.

Modificationswill suggest themselvesto those skilled in the'art which will fall within the scope of my invention, therefore 1 wish to be limited only by'my claims.

1-. cable outlethead comprising an inverted cap adapted to 'be mounted on an "end "of a provided with a cavity open on the top and on the side facing the supporting portion, the inner f'bottom face of the cavity being substantially flush with theadjacent upper surface of the supporting portion, an intermediate clamp mounted above the supporting portion to receive one or 7 more cable conductor means therebetween with the end portion and end face positioned in the cavity, the said clamp havingan opening to receive the securing means and aside face closing the open side of the cavity, a top clamp mounted above the intermediate clamp to receive conductor means therebetween and partially close the said top opening of the cavity, the solder re-' taining member and the said intermediate clamp covering substantially the entire exposed upper surface of the cap and each having a slot regis tering with the other slot and'with the slot in the cap, the said securing means arranged to cooperate with the top clamp and cap and force the parts together and into clamping engagement with the conductor means.

2. Anoutlet head for the conductor of a parkway cable positioned in a hollow standard, comprising an inverted "cup-shaped cap adapted to enclose the end of the standard and be secured to the side face of the st'andard,'meanspositioned in the cap to insulate the cap from the standard, areceptacle portion positioned abovethe cap-and spaced therefrom, a supporting portion projecting laterally from the receptacle portionto maintain=the receptacle portionin said position, the receptacle portion having a cavity open on one side and the top, aconductor clamping member mounted on the supporting portion and its. opposite surfaces provided with retaining means to receive the conductors to be connected and permit the end portions of the conductors :to'extend into the cavity, the wall of the cavity preventing the conductor ends extending through and beyond the receptacle portion, a second clampingmember .positioned above the said conductor clamping member and means to draw the parts together and grip the conductors, the last "said means comprising a bolt extending through the cap and supporting portion and clamping mem-.- bers and a nut associated with the bolt, the cap and supporting member and conductor clamping member provided with laterally extending and longitudinally aligned slots whereby one of the aforesaid conductors may be passed from within the standard to the conductor clamping member, the side "face of the conductor clamping member closing the side opening of the receptable.

3. An outlet head for the conductor of a parkwa'y'cable, comprisingan inverted cup-shaped-cap adapted to be secured to one end of a hollow standardand means to insulate the cap from thestandard, a solder retaining member mounted on the cap and comprising an open top receptacle portion spaced from the cap above the cap-and a supporting portion projecting from-the receptacle portion and cooperating with the cap for sup=- porting the receptacle portion in said position, the cap and the said supporting portion provided with registering openings and securing means extending through the openings in non-rotatable relation thereto, the receptacle portion provided with a cavity fully open on one side and its inner bottom surface positioned in substantial alignment with the upper surface of the supporting portion, clamping means mounted on the said supporting portion to receive and clamp a plurality of con ductors in position adjacent the open side of the cavity whereby the ends of the conductors may project into but not beyond the cavity, the cap and said supporting portion and the clamping mean each provided with a slot positioned one above the other and each slot extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the head whereby a conductor may be brought from within the standard and to the clamping means, and rotatable means on the securing means to draw the clamping means into clamping relation with the conductors and the said supporting portion.

4. An outlet head for the conductor of a parkway cable and including means for connecting the conductor to track cables, comprising an inverted cup-shaped cap securable to one end of a standard and means to insulate the cap therefrom, a solder retaining member including a supporting portion mounted on the cap and having an opening registerable with an opening in the cap, se curing means projecting through said openings, the solder retaining member provided with a receptacle portion associated with the supporting portion and having an upright rim forming therewith a cavity open on one side and the top, the receptacle portion held in spaced relation to the cap, clamping means mounted above the solder retaining member and having means to receive the track and parkway conductors adjacent their ends, the clamping means having means closing the open side of the cavity but permitting the conductor ends to be positioned within the cavity and having other means partially closing the top opening of the cavity, the said clamping means provided with openings registering with the aforesaid openings and through which the securing means projects and means cooperating with the securing means whereby the clamping means may be drawn into clamping relation with the conductors and the said solder retaining member.

5. In a member adapted for use with an outlet for a cable, the outlet having an inverted cupshaped closure, the said member comprising an element of metal having a plate-like supporting portion and an open top receptacle portion, the plate-lik supporting portion having oppositely disposed faces and one face adapted to rest upon the exposed face of the said closure, the supporting portion also having an opening therethrough to receive and cooperate with securing means to prevent rotation of the member relative to the closure, the receptacle portion having a bottom wall integral with and projecting laterally from the plate-like portion and the plane of the lower face of the bottom wall being parallel to but spaced from the plane of the lower face of the plate-like portion for the purpose described, a rim projecting from the bottom wall and forming therewith an open top cavity closed on all sides except one, the said open side being toward the supporting portion and adapted to receive the end portions of conductors including their end faces and which may be clamped to the upper face of the plate-like portion, the said rim preventing the conductor ends extending through and beyond the rim, and a slot extending from the outer edge of the plate-like portion on the side thereof opposite the receptacle portion and extending radially toward the first said opening.

6. A solder retaining member for use in a parkway cable outlet head, the head provided with a plate-like portion to close a hollow standard, the solder retaining member comprising a circular body of metal adapted to be positioned upon the exposed surface of the plate-like portion of said head and substantially cover the same, one por tion of the member arranged to be in spaced relation to the said plate-like portion and provided with an upstanding rim forming with the said one portion a cavity open on the top and on the side toward the other portion of the member whereby the end portion and face of one or more conductors other than the conductor of the parkway cable resting upon the said other portion of the member may be brought into the cavity through the said open side, a slot extending radially from the outer edge of the said other portion toward the center of the solder retaining member and the member provided with an axial opening positioned between the said side opening of the cavity and the inner end of said slot.

WILLIAM P, BOVARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,041,055 Flath May 19, 1936 2,114,681 Gort Apr, 19, 1938 2,146,462 Bone Feb. 7, 1939 2,262,226 Flath Nov. 11, 1941 2,348,968 Flath May 16, 1944 

